Open Water Fitness Tests

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I just went on my lunch break to LA Fitness. I did 8 full laps which should be about 200 meters. It was a moderatley challenging, but easily repeatable. I think I'll try to go each day the rest of this week. My dive classes start Saturday, so I assume that is the day the real test will be.
 
I think both are important. And unpopular as it might be, I will say it, anybody who has difficulty swimming 200 meters needs to work on that a little bit before hanging around water and partaking in water sports. That is about eight lengths, threshold to me not being a sufficient swimmer.

N
 
And unpopular as it might be, I will say it, anybody who has difficulty swimming 200 meters needs to work on that a little bit before hanging around water and partaking in water sports. That is about eight lengths, threshold to me not being a sufficient swimmer.

N
I don't think anybody will disagree with you. That is why the requirement is there in the OW course.
 
As mentioned, it depends what you mean by "better". But the real answer is simple--you have to do what your instructor makes you do. Some give a choice to each person, some let the class vote, some just say this or that. Some try to keep strict monitoring on the exact number of laps done (how do you do this with 10 people all at once....?). Some get a good idea of how many laps and an idea of who really sucks in the water. Some use the "honor system" in lap counting. The 200 unassisted means you have to make it to 200 yds. (mtrs.). Stroke doesn't matter, so it turns out for many as "gutting it out on brute strength" rather than having any kind of technically sound swim stroke. Not sure what that proves, as even with a proper stroke, swimming is but a distant cousin to scuba IMO. The 300 m/f/s is a test in leg strength (more related to scuba) and snorkeling skills, which helps some immensely when it comes to scuba airway control/mask skills. The 300 IMO is also WAY easier, except for the accomplished swimmer, or for someone who has never snorkeled. I've always been curious as to why arms aren't allowed to be used on the m/f/s300. If you were going to swim to rescue someone with m/f/s you would surely use your arms when doing the crawl. I guess it's because you should NEVER use arms on scuba. Not so--there are occasions, such as cramping, doing fancy stuff--never for basic swimming forward. I would imaging arm strokes are important to those with leg disabilities, but I'm not an expert. That's a lot of hot air, but like I said, it just depends on which swim the instructor makes you do.
 
I don't think anybody will disagree with you. That is why the requirement is there in the OW course.

Perhaps but instead of 200M being an end goal, I would consider it a starting point, as I said or should have said more clearly, a threshold for a beginner diver to be improved upon, not forgotten once met.

N
 
As mentioned, it depends what you mean by "better". But the real answer is simple--you have to do what your instructor makes you do. Some give a choice to each person, some let the class vote, some just say this or that. Some try to keep strict monitoring on the exact number of laps done (how do you do this with 10 people all at once....?). Some get a good idea of how many laps and an idea of who really sucks in the water. Some use the "honor system" in lap counting. The 200 unassisted means you have to make it to 200 yds. (mtrs.). Stroke doesn't matter, so it turns out for many as "gutting it out on brute strength" rather than having any kind of technically sound swim stroke. Not sure what that proves, as even with a proper stroke, swimming is but a distant cousin to scuba IMO. The 300 m/f/s is a test in leg strength (more related to scuba) and snorkeling skills, which helps some immensely when it comes to scuba airway control/mask skills. The 300 IMO is also WAY easier, except for the accomplished swimmer, or for someone who has never snorkeled. I've always been curious as to why arms aren't allowed to be used on the m/f/s300. If you were going to swim to rescue someone with m/f/s you would surely use your arms when doing the crawl. I guess it's because you should NEVER use arms on scuba. Not so--there are occasions, such as cramping, doing fancy stuff--never for basic swimming forward. I would imaging arm strokes are important to those with leg disabilities, but I'm not an expert. That's a lot of hot air, but like I said, it just depends on which swim the instructor makes you do.

When I did mine, it was in "open" water; the instructor said to swim out, around that buoy out there, and back. I think he watched us closely for about 50 yards or so to be sure we really could swim, and then went back to talking with somebody on shore. At the turnaround, I paused to look, and he wasn't even looking at the water. I guess I could have cut it short if I had really wanted to, but there was no point, and the other person doing the test might have turned me in :-)
 
When I did mine, it was in "open" water; the instructor said to swim out, around that buoy out there, and back. I think he watched us closely for about 50 yards or so to be sure we really could swim, and then went back to talking with somebody on shore. At the turnaround, I paused to look, and he wasn't even looking at the water. I guess I could have cut it short if I had really wanted to, but there was no point, and the other person doing the test might have turned me in :-)

Mine was similar - the instructor was busy arranging equipment for the course (regs etc) so was only half looking. I reckon he had a good idea of how quick I was swimming and how long it would take though. I reckon I lost count of my swim on about the 10th length (of a short pool) so I probably did an extra 5 lengths to make sure though.
 
At the turnaround, I paused to look, and he wasn't even looking at the water. I guess I could have [-]cut it short[/-] drowned...

And your instructor wouldn't have even known where to perform the recovery. :shocked2:
 
I honestly didn't know that anybody actually did the swim test for their OW training....
 

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